Definitions for describe
dɪˈskraɪbde·scribe

Princeton's WordNet(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe, depict, drawverb

   give a description of

   "He drew an elaborate plan of attack"

2. report, describe, accountverb

   to give an account or representation of in words

   "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"

3. trace, draw, line, describe, delineateverb

   make a mark or lines on a surface

   "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand"

4. identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, nameverb

   identify as in botany or biology, for example

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. describeverb

   To represent in words.

   The feeling is difficult to describe, but not unpleasant.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

2. describeverb

   To give rise to a geometrical structure.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

3. describeverb

   To scientifically reveal a new species by technically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species.

   The fungus was first described by a botanist.

   Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

Webster Dictionary(1.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describeverb

   to represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle

2. Describeverb

   to represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities

3. Describeverb

   to distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class

4. Describeverb

   to use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describe

   dē-skrīb′, v.t. to trace out or delineate: to give an account of.—adj. Describ′able.—n. Describ′er. [L. describĕre—de, down, and scribĕre, scriptum, to write.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe

   To create using words.

   They did describe how they felt and it was great to know they too were also happy and felt very loved.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 16, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Inform
   • Mark

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2425

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2430

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Verbs Frequency: #93

How to pronounce describe?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say describe in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of describe in a Sentence

1. Jacob Wilson:

   It’s been a long time coming for me after spending 10 years trying to get to this situation and put myself in a situation where I can kind of make this dream happen, so to go out and get the first hit out of the way, words don’t really describe the feeling you get from that.

2. Steven Kologi:

   I can not even describe the type of people they were so just believe me when I say how great they were.

3. Nathaniel David:

   Our hearts are broken, they're broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered, it was gut wrenching, words really can't describe what they're going through.

4. Ellen Goodman:

   Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of.

5. John Malkovich:

   It's not a field, I think, for people who need to have success every day if you can't live with a nightly sort of disaster, you should get out. I wouldn't describe myself as lacking in confidence, but I would just say that the ghosts you chase you never catch.

Popularity rank by frequency of use